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WEEKES ON THE WEB
Posted On Friday, 01.29.2016 / 10:00 AM

By Kevin Weekes -  NHL Network Analyst /NHL.com - Weekes on the Web

Weekes: 10 biggest storylines from first half of season

Each Friday throughout the season Kevin Weekes will be blogging for NHL.com. In place of his traditional Friday Four, this week he discusses his top 10 biggest storylines of the first half of the season.

Washington Capitals

The first order of business is the year the Capitals are having. The consistency, their approach, their coaching. General manager Brian MacLellan has really done a nice job. This summer alone, for them to be able to trade for T.J. Oshie and sign Justin Williams. Those are two underrated pieces especially what Williams brings as "Mr. Game 7."

I've been impressed with Braden Holtby's level of performance and demeanor and what he means to that team. That organization is just so well positioned to make a run at the Stanley Cup. They have been the most consistent team in the NHL this season and Barry Trotz has done an excellent job.

Posted On Wednesday, 01.27.2016 / 3:00 AM

By Kevin Weekes -  NHL Network Analyst /NHL.com - Weekes on the Web

Weekes' pluses, minuses for Flyers, Capitals

Each Wednesday throughout the regular season, Kevin Weekes will be offering his pluses and minuses for the teams competing in the NBCSN Wednesday Night Rivalry game in his Weekes on the Web blog. Weekes also will assist fans with three must-watch elements of the game.

The Washington Capitals are chomping at the bit to get back on the ice. They haven't played since last Tuesday, a 6-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, after home games last Friday and Sunday were postponed because of the weather. And you can bet they will want to enter the All-Star break with another win after an amazing and record-setting first half of the season.

It's not Alex Ovechkin or Nicklas Backstrom who leads them in scoring -- it's Evgeny Kuznetsov (15 goals, 48 points), who's in his second full season in the League.

Though the Capitals will be competing for the Presidents' Trophy in the second half of the season, the Philadelphia Flyers will be trying to string together wins and make a run at the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Flyers (20-18-8) visit the Capitals (35-8-3) at Verizon Center on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN). Here's my breakdown of the game:

Posted On Friday, 01.22.2016 / 3:00 AM

By Kevin Weekes -  NHL Network Analyst /NHL.com - Weekes on the Web

Friday Four: Lightning, Drouin locked into positions

Each Friday throughout the season Kevin Weekes will be bringing you his Friday Four. He will be blogging about four players, teams, plays, or trends that have caught his eye.

Jonathan Drouin

The Jonathan Drouin saga seems to take a new turn every day. The latest news came Wednesday when he was suspended without pay by the Tampa Bay Lightning for failing to show up for a game with their Syracuse farm team in the American Hockey League. I've been in touch with people on both sides. Obviously each side has a difference in opinion and differences in philosophies, not only based on Drouin being a part of that team but the way in which he was used and their understanding of what would happen when he went down to the AHL.

Posted On Wednesday, 01.20.2016 / 3:00 AM

By Kevin Weekes -  NHL Network Analyst /NHL.com - Weekes on the Web

Weekes' pluses, minuses for Blues, Red Wings

Each Wednesday throughout the regular season, Kevin Weekes will be offering his pluses and minuses for the teams competing in the NBCSN Wednesday Night Rivalry game in his Weekes on the Web blog. Weekes also will assist fans with three must-watch elements of the game.

The Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues are no strangers, having played in the Norris and Central divisions in the Western Conference for years before the Red Wings moved to the Eastern Conference.

Each team is playing well and not that far out of first place in their respective divisions. Detroit has done it with a mix of veterans and youths, and St. Louis has done it with defense and good goaltending, while overcoming a lot of injuries.

The Blues (27-15-7) visit the Red Wings (23-14-8) at Joe Louis Arena on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET, NBCSN). Here's my breakdown of the game:

Posted On Friday, 01.15.2016 / 3:00 AM

By Kevin Weekes -  NHL Network Analyst /NHL.com - Weekes on the Web

Friday Four: Nelson, Bennett give their teams a boost

Each Friday throughout the season Kevin Weekes will be bringing you his Friday Four. He will be blogging about four players, teams, plays, or trends that have caught his eye.

Brock Nelson, New York Islanders

Quick -- who leads the Islanders in goals? John Tavares? Nope. Kyle Okposo? Try again. If you said Brock Nelson, chances are you're either an Islanders fan or lying. Nelson has been on a surge lately with four goals in three games and five in four games. He had his first NHL hat trick and an assist in a 5-2 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

Nelson is scoring goals, and he's getting them in different ways. That has been impressive during an up-and-down stretch in a good season for the Islanders. Nelson has 28 points, second on the team behind Tavares (31) and Okposo (33).

Posted On Wednesday, 01.13.2016 / 3:00 AM

By Kevin Weekes -  NHL Network Analyst /NHL.com - Weekes on the Web

Weekes' pluses, minuses for Bruins, Flyers

Each Wednesday throughout the regular season, Kevin Weekes will be offering his pluses and minuses for the teams competing in the NBCSN Wednesday Night Rivalry game in his Weekes on the Web blog. Weekes also will assist fans with three must-watch elements of the game.

The Philadelphia Flyers have won three straight games following a three-game losing streak and are trying to get back into the Stanley Cup Playoff race. They got off to a slow start under new coach Dave Hakstol but seem to have adapted to the style of play he wants out of them.

The Boston Bruins have two wins in their past nine games and continue a five-game road trip where they're 1-1-1 so far. Boston is 12-4-3 on the road this season and hopes to get back on track against the rival Flyers.

The Bruins (21-15-5) visit the Flyers (18-15-7) at Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN). Here's my breakdown of the game:

Posted On Friday, 01.08.2016 / 3:00 AM

By Kevin Weekes -  NHL Network Analyst /NHL.com - Weekes on the Web

Friday Four: Coyotes, Panthers keep on surprising

Each Friday throughout the season Kevin Weekes will be bringing you his Friday Four. He will be blogging about four players, teams, plays or trends that have caught his eye.

Arizona Coyotes continue to surprise

The Coyotes are 6-2-2 in their past 10 games and playing extremely well. Anthony Duclair and Max Domi, obviously they have exceptional skills and are making an impact on this team. But it's the respect they have for the coaching staff, starting with Dave Tippett, and also the respect they have for the opportunity for playing in the NHL and how they speak glowingly about Shane Doan that, to me, says a lot.

Doan has been incredible. He has seven goals in five games and has shown no signs of slowing down. He's gone back up from the third to the second line based on how well he is playing. Even though they've asked him to take a reduced role, he's so proud and continues to be productive. He has a chance to get 25 to 30 goals, which at his age, 39, would be incredible.

Goalie Louis Domingue has played well in the absence of Mike Smith. He allowed one goal on 26 shots in a 2-1 win against the Calgary Flames on Thursday and has a .930 save percentage in nine games. He and Anders Lindback; I don't think anyone saw that coming, how well they have played, so credit to them.

Posted On Wednesday, 01.06.2016 / 3:00 AM

By Kevin Weekes -  NHL Network Analyst /NHL.com - Weekes on the Web

Weekes' pluses, minuses for Penguins, Blackhawks

Each Wednesday throughout the regular season, Kevin Weekes will be offering his pluses and minuses for the teams competing in the NBCSN Wednesday Night Rivalry game in his Weekes on the Web blog. Weekes also will assist fans with three must-watch elements of the game.

If the game Wednesday between the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins is anything like what we saw Tuesday in the first of their home-and-home, NHL fans are in for a treat.

Chicago took a 2-0 lead in the first period, but Pittsburgh came back with two in the third before a perfect shot by Artemi Panarin won it in overtime for the Blackhawks, 3-2.

The best players showed up for each team, and so did the goaltending. The intensity made it like a Stanley Cup Playoff game, and I expect more of the same when the Penguins (19-15-5) visit the Blackhawks (24-13-4) at United Center on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN).

Here's my breakdown of the game:

Posted On Friday, 01.01.2016 / 3:00 AM

By Kevin Weekes -  NHL Network Analyst /NHL.com - Weekes on the Web

Friday Four: Panthers surging into 2016

Each Friday throughout the season Kevin Weekes will be bringing you his Friday Four. He will be blogging about four players, teams, plays or trends that have caught his eye.

1. Florida Panthers

As of Friday, they are sitting atop the Atlantic Division. Who would have seen that coming, especially with the way the Montreal Canadiens started the season? Look at Aleksander Barkov and how well he has played. This guy should be and has a chance to be a top-10 player in the NHL, and he'll get that. Unique skill, ability and hockey sense. He's a perfect 5-for-5 in the shootout with three game-deciding goals. He is a big body, a smart player, and I think that's coincided with Jaromir Jagr playing the way he still can. The emergence of Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau rediscovering his offensive game from a couple of years ago have been keys for the Panthers. And Aaron Ekblad is Aaron Ekblad. Goalie Roberto Luongo, 36, gives them a chance to win every night.

Overall, the Panthers are a real tough team to play against and are serving notice to the League that they are way ahead of where we thought they would be. And they've won seven games in a row as we head into the New Year.

Posted On Wednesday, 12.30.2015 / 3:00 AM

By David Satriano -  NHL.com Fantasy Staff Writer /NHL.com - Weekes on the Web

Weekes' pluses, minuses for Rangers, Lightning

Each Wednesday throughout the regular season, Kevin Weekes will offer his pluses and minuses for the teams competing in the NBCSN Wednesday Night Rivalry game in his Weekes on the Web blog. Weekes also will assist fans with three must-watch elements of the game.

With the way each of their seasons has gone thus far, it's hard to believe the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning, the teams that met in the Eastern Conference Final last season, could have a difficult time qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Stanley Cup contenders when the season began, they have had their struggles, but each team is much better than they have shown.

The Rangers started off red hot, but are 3-7-2 in December and have lost their past eight games on the road (0-6-2), having allowed more than four goals per game in those losses. They haven't looked anything like themselves or the way we know they can play.

The Lightning have been hampered by injuries all season but haven't used that an excuse for why they have yet to get it going and are in sixth place in the Atlantic Division.

The Rangers (20-13-4) visit the Lightning (18-15-4) at Amalie Arena on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN). Here's my breakdown of the game:

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